Service Proposes to Protect Neosho Mucket and Rabbitsfoot under the Endangered Species ActAgency Seeks Information from the Public, Scientific Community before making final decision

Current evidence suggests that the Neosho mucket mussel is in danger of becoming extinct and the rabbitsfoot mussel may become threatened with extinction in the foreseeable future, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. As a result, the Service has proposed to protect the species under the Endangered Species Act, and is seeking new information from the public and the scientific community that will assist the agency in making a final determination.

The Service first identified the Neosho mucket as a candidate for ESA protection in 1984. It historically occurred in river systems within four states and is now only found in eight rivers and creeks within Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The historical range for the Neosho mucket has been reduced by an estimated 62 percent, The Neosho mucket continues to experience habitat loss due to degradation of stream and river habitats from impoundments, channelization, chemical contaminants, mining, oil and natural gas development, and increasing sedimentation. The Service is proposing to list the Neosho mucket as endangered and designate critical habitat.

Rabbitsfoot mussel.

Photo by USFWS; Georgia Parham

The rabbitsfoot was first identified as a candidate for ESA protection in 1994. It historically occurred in river systems within 15 states but is now found in 51 rivers and creeks in 13 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee). It disappeared from Georgia and West Virginia. Survey data since 1985 shows dramatic declines in historic ranges and population sizes. The rabbitsfoot’s historic range has been reduced by an estimated 64 percent. The The rabbitsfoot also continues to experience habitat loss due to degradation of stream and river habitats from impoundments, channelization, chemical contaminants, mining, oil and natural gas development, and increasing sedimentation. The Service is proposing to list the rabbitsfoot as threatened and designate critical habitat.

Service biologists have identified 2,138 miles of stream channels in 12 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee) that may contain stream channel habitat essential to the conservation of these species.

Of the total miles of rivers, streams, and creeks identified for the Neosho mucket, one percent is adjacent to state lands, four percent adjacent to federal lands, and 95 percent adjacent to private lands. Of the total miles identified for the rabbitsfoot, five percent is located adjacent to state lands, 13 percent adjacent to federal lands, and 82 percent adjacent to private lands.Three critical habitat units proposed for the Neosho mucket and rabbitsfoot are currently designated under the ESA for the oyster mussel and Cumberlandian combshell, encompassing 46 river miles of the Duck River, Tennessee, and 25 river miles of Bear Creek, Alabama and Mississippi.

The ESA requires the Service to identify the location of habitat essential for the conservation of the species, which the Act terms “critical habitat.” This identification helps federal agencies identify actions that may affect listed species or their habitat, and to work with the Service to avoid or minimize those impacts. Identifying this habitat also helps raise awareness of the habitat needs of imperiled species and focus the conservation efforts of other partners such as state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and individual landowners.

Although non-federal lands have initially been included in these areas, activities on these lands are not affected now, and will not necessarily be affected if the species is protected under the ESA in the future. Only if an activity is authorized, funded, or carried out by a federal agency will the agency need to work with the Service to help landowners avoid, reduce or mitigate potential impacts to listed species or to ensure actions do not adversely modify critical habitat. In addition, public and private landowners still must comply with other provisions of the ESA to protect threatened and endangered species on their lands. The Service relies on a number of voluntary, non-regulatory conservation programs to provide willing landowners with assurances to protect them for the work they do on their lands.

Today’s proposal is part of the Service’s effort to implement a court-approved work plan that resolves a series of lawsuits concerning the agency’s ESA Listing Program. The intent of the agreement is to significantly reduce litigation-driven workloads and allow the agency to focus its resources on the species most in need of the ESA’s protections over the next five years.

The final decision to add the Neosho mucket and rabbitsfoot to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, as well as the final identification of areas containing habitat essential to the species, will be based on the best scientific information available. In addition, the Service will utilize an economic analysis to inform and refine its identification of this habitat. Only areas that contain habitat essential to the conservation of the species, and where the benefits of this habitat outweigh potential economic impacts, will be included in the final identification.

The Service will open a 60-day public comment period on the proposal to list these two mussel species under the ESA with critical habitat. This will allow the public to review and comment on the proposal and provide additional information. All relevant information received from the public, government agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties will be considered and addressed in the agency’s final listing determination for the species and identification of habitat essential to its conservation.

U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Attn: FWS–R4–ES–2012–0031, Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203. All comments, including personal information, will be available on http://www.regulations.gov.

Public hearings on this proposal must be requested by November 30, 2012, within 45 days of this announcement. Please contact Mr. Chris Davidson, Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office, 110 South Amity Road, Suite 300, Conway, Arkansas 72032, telephone 501/513-4470.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq , watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq